Oct. 29, 2001
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Junior women's tennis player Melissa Iqbal fell in the semifinals of the 2001 ITA Omni Hotels Midwest Championships in Madison, Wis., today. Despite the loss, it is the furthest a Boilermaker has advanced in the regional tournament since Mary Beth Maggart was a semifinalist in 1996.
Assistant coach Chris Iandolo was pleased with the Boilermaker's effort.
"This is the best finish for a Purdue women's tennis player in five years," Iandolo said.
In the quarterfinals, Iqbal defeated Illinois State's Alesia Mikalayeva 6-1, 4-6, 6-2. In her semifinal match with Northwestern's Marine Piriou, the No. 5 seed and the Wildcats' No. 1 player, Iqbal fell 6-1, 6-2.
Iqbal nearly accomplished what only one Boilermaker has in school history - win the regional championship. Former Purdue great Erica Adams won the title in 1990.
Full results for the ITA Midwest Regional Championships can be found at www.uwbadgers.com.